Man arrested after police chase in Johnson, Floyd countiesMan arrested after police chase in Johnson, Floyd counties
By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor
PAINTSVILLE — A man was arrested Oct. 13 after leading authorities on a chase from Johnson County to Floyd County.
Benjamin Anderson, 22, whose address is unknown, is charged with speeding 15 miles per hour over the limit, reckless driving, first-degree fleeing or evading police in a motor vehicle, no operator’s moped license, failure to wear a seat belt, failure to produce an insurance card, failure to appear citation for a misdemeanor, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, theft by unlawful taking $500 or more but under $1,000, theft by unlawful taking an auto $1,000 or more but less than $10,000, and second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor.
Johnson County Sheriff, Doug Saylor said that an attempted traffic stop on U.S. 23 led a Johnson County deputy into Floyd County.
Saylor said that members of the Prestonsburg Police Department and Kentucky State Police along with a Johnson County deputy stopped the vehicle near Bull Creek Trade Center on U.S. 23 in Floyd County, where Anderson was taken into custody.
Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Watson said in the report that he attempted to stop Anderson’s vehicle for speeding 70 miles per hour in a 55-mile-per-hour zone. Anderson began to flee when Watson turned his emergency lights and siren on, the report said.
After several miles and entering Floyd County, Anderson was stopped and arrested, the report said, and there was also a 17-year-old boy in the vehicle.
Anderson was placed into custody, read his Miranda rights, waved his rights and answered the questions, Watson said in the report.
Anderson advised that he had taken the vehicle from Lovely in Martin County, and when asked about hand tools and weed eaters found in the vehicle, he said that he took them from the side of the road, Watson said in the report.
Anderson lost control of the vehicle, hitting a guardrail in Floyd County, and made it possible to stop the vehicle, the report said. Damage was visible from the front left of the front bumper to the rear left of the vehicle, the report said.
Watson said in the report that when the vehicle came to a stop, Anderson refused to get out of the vehicle, and officers had to break the window to get his door unlocked and get him out of the vehicle.
Anderson also had an active warrant for failure to appear in court in Pike County for felony offenses from June 29, including fourth-degree assault, minor injury; resisting arrest; fleeing or evading police on foot; and third-degree criminal mischief, the report said.
Martin city police and Floyd County District 2 Constable Gary Nelson also assisted during the pursuit.
Anderson was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Johnson County.